Inspirator for internal-combustion engines.



H. E. DUNHAM. INSPIRATOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11. I914.

1 1. 43,25& Patented June 15, 1915.

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INSPIRATOR FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 15, 1915.

' Original application filed December 17, 1913, Serial No. 807,229. Divided and this application filed June 11,

1914. Serial No. 844,562.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMON E. DUNHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Seattle, county of-King, and

' State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Inspirators for Internal-Combustion Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,-clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to inspirators for internal combustion engines of the type disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 807,229, filed December 17 1913, and of which the present application is a division.

In said co-pending"application, an internal combustion engine is disclosed in combination with which my improved inspirator is used, and for which it is particularly well adapted. The engine structure is covered in the co-pending application and the improved inspirator forms the basis of the present application.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, of one form of the engine a ove referred to having associated therewith, the improved inspirator; and Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the inspirator.

Referring to the drawing, the engine shown in Fig. 1 constitutes one modification of the several forms of engine disclosed in the co-pending application aforesaid. 7

Of the engine structure,;it is suflicient to note, for the present purpose, the piston A,

which, on its downward stroke, compresses a1r 1n the crank case B, the a1r-hav1ng been drawn into the crank case through the check valve 1 on the previous up stroke of the piston. The engine is also provided with a suitable inlet valve 2, which operates on the suction stroke of the piston to admit gaseous fuel to the cylinder from a suitable carburcter. An exhaust valve 3, suitably timed and actuated by a cam 4,, permits exhaust of the burnt gases through the exhaust ports 5 and 6.

A portion of the air com ressed in the crank case B enters the cylin or through the port 7 when the piston A nears the end of its downward stroke. Before the port 7 is opened, however, the piston, in its downward movement, uncovers the opening in the inspirator to permit compressed air from the crank case to pass through the inspirator and into the cylinder carrying with it a quantity of fuel or fuel and water in an atomized condition, as will hereinafter appear. i

The inspirator C comprises a casting or casing 8 adapted to be inserted in the cylinder wall, as clearly shown in the drawing, said casting being provided with a central opening in which a longitudinally slidable casing or plunger 9 is adapted to engage. The casting 8 is provided with a nozzle opening 10, and the casing 9 is provided with a central bore or opening 11 in alinement with said 'nozzle opening 10. Disposed at one side of the central bore 11 is a passage 12 to conduct liquid fuel to the nozzle opening 10. The passage 12 communicates with a port 13 in the casting 8, and a liquid fuel supply conduit 14 serves to supply fuel to the inspirator through said passages 13 and 12. Suitable check valves 15 are provided in the conduit 14 to prevent back flow of the fuel therethrough.

Disposed at the other side of the central bore 11 is a passage 16 corresponding to the passage 12 to which water is conducted by means of a supply conduit 17 which may be similar in all respects to the conduit 11.

The central bore 11 communicates, by means of suitable connections 18, with the crank case of the motor, so that when the nozzle 10 of the inspirator is uncovered by the piston, compressed air is free to pass through the central bore 11 and nozzle opening 10 into the cylinder. A suitable check valve 19 is provided to prevent back flow of fluid from the cylinder to the crank case.

The casing 9 is provided with a threaded portion 20, cooperating with a corresponding threaded portion on the stationary bracket 21. When the casing 9 is turned by any suitable means, such as the lever 22 clamped thereto, the threaded portion 20 causes a longitudinal movement of the easing 9 relative to the casting 8. In a multiple cylinder motor, it may be desirable to interconnect the levers 22 of all of the inspirators by a common link 23, which, when actuated, will serve to simultaneously actuate all of the casings or plungers 9 of the several inspirators.

The complete operation of the engine, together with the inspirator, is described in the co-pencling application, but in order to understand the operation of the inspirator,

it is sufficient to note that the piston A on its downward stroke uncovers the nozzle opening 10 and permits a portion of the com pressed air to pass through the central bore 11, and if the plunger or casing 9 is in its extreme forward position, the air will pass 1 directly to the cylinder without carrying with it any of the fuel or Water; that is, the

extremity of the casing 9 seats upon the extremity of the opening in the casting 8 and prevents passage of the fuel and water to the nozzle 10. In other words, communication between the passages 12 and 16 and the central bore 11 is cut off. If the lever 22 is actuated to move the casing9 longitudinally, the liquid fuel, such as crude oil or the like, supplied by means of the conduit 14:, is permitted to pass from the passage 12 and in front of the nozzle opening 10. Likewise, the water supplied by means of the conduit 17 is permitted to pass from the passage 16 in front of the nozzle 10, and under these conditions, the blast of air passing through the central bore 11 will force the mixture of fuel and water through the nozzle opening 10 into the cylinder and thoroughly atomize the same in so doing.

By properly adjusting the position of the plunger, or casing 9, in the casting 8, the desired amount of liquid fuel and Water may be supplied, and such supply cut off entirely when this condition is advisable.

On the up stroke of the piston, the check valves 15 in the supply conduits 14: and 17, and the check valve 19 in the air supply conduit, serve to prevent back flow of the fluids in the cylinder to the crank case.

In my co-pending application, the air is supplied to the inspirator in several differentways, a separate compressing chamber being employed for this purpose in one of and provided with a central longitudinal air passage in continual communication with the opening of said nozzle whereby the flow of air through said passage to the cylinder is controlled by the piston, longitudinal fuel and water passages parallel with the air passage and communicating therewith at the end of the plunger, the inspirator having a portion adjacent the nozzle with which the extremity of the plunger is adapted to cooperate to control communication between the air and fuelpassage and between the air and water passage, means to admit air from the compressor to the air passage to force the fuel and water through said nozzle, and means to actuate said longitudinally slidable plunger.

2.. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the cylinder, the piston, and fluid compressing means, of an inspirator in the cylinder wall having a longitudinal bore or opening and a nozzle at the extremity of said opening, a plunger mounted in said opening for longitudinal sliding movements and provided with a central fluid passage. in continual communication with the opening of said nozzle whereby the flow of fluid through said passage to the cylinder is controlled by the piston, indepe'ndentpassages adapted to discharge adjacent the nozzle into the fluid passing through said central passage, the inspirator having a portion adjacent the nozzle with which the extremity of the plunger is adapted to cooperate to control communication between the central passage and each of said independent passages, and means to actuate said plunger.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS S. MAGUIRE,

VERNON T. HoUoH'roN. 

